I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love... Colossians 2:2

    Late July in Central Texas is hot and dry and the same... day after day after day after day. What was once green is now yellow and on the way to brown. What was once muddy and moist is now dry, hard, and cracked. We are in the days of monotonous and withering heat. The television weather forecasters are irrelevant: High 98-100 — Chance for Rain 10% (or less) — UV exposure 10 (highest danger). Tomorrow’s forecast? Ditto, repeat, same ol’ same ol’. Even if you don’t personally live in a place like this during your summer, you can appreciate and understand how boring, tiring, and frustrating these days can be.

    Unfortunately, many people we meet from day to day live in a similar place emotionally and spiritually. Constant pressure marks each day. Wilting criticism confronts them all day long at work, at school, or at home. Illness, their own or that of a loved one, makes each day a grind and an uncertainty. A critical parent constantly harps, corrects, or ridicules every step of the way. A rebellious child throws up ridicule and sarcasm constantly. The monotonous withering heat may come in many forms, but for many people, way too many, it is unrelenting.

    We see the results of this monotonous withering heat in people’s lives when we bump into them in the check out line, have them cut us off on the freeway, have them impatiently “wait” on us in a fast food line, or grouse about us to a boss or supervisor. We come away from the exchange angry and impatient ourselves, ready to get even for the offense. None of likes being insulted or being treated rudely and unfairly. So often, we find it easier to keep the withering monotonous heat in circulation by passing on to others what has blistered and wilted us.

What can be done to cool off a world caught under the suffocating effects of a withering and monotonous heat?

    Jesus had a way of knowing how to respond to these kinds of situations. He knew when he needed to put his foot down and raise the level of his voice to his critics. He also knew how to absorb the frustrations, doubts, animosity, impatience, and rudeness of others and turn it into an opportunity to use his redemptive grace. I will confess, when the withering monotonous heat of a critical person comes my way, I don’t often respond appropriately. In my best moments, I’m not sure what to say. In my worst moments, I find it hard to act redemptively because of my ignorance or anger. What can be done to cool off a world caught under the suffocating effects of a withering and monotonous heat?

    I don’t claim to know every answer, but I do know one. Nothing brings refreshment to others smoldering under the withering and monotonous heat like genuine encouragement. We can take a powerful lesson from the great encourager, Joseph of Cyprus. You probably know him better by his nickname, Barnabas: bar = son of, nabas = encouragement. I don’t know a single family, office place, church, business, or organization that has too many folks like Barnabas. They are the refreshing breeze on a harsh and withering day. They are the cup of cool water in an atmosphere of parched relationships and suffocating attitudes.

    So let’s avoid personalizing every offensive action or word, rude comment, social shun, or impatient remark sent our way. Our ugly retorts only raise the temperature and insure the scorching atmosphere lasts a little longer and is passed on to other folks. While we may not be able to act redemptively in that situation, we can help lift someone’s burden and refresh someone’s spirit with a well-timed and genuine word of encouragement, response of thanks, or message of appreciation. In a world of monotonous and withering heat, let’s be a Barnabas: a person who refreshes, encourages, and lifts the burdens of others.

Title: "Monotonous and Withering Heat"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: July 23, 2001

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